Aidan Longwell became the latest Stark County player chosen in the Major League Baseball Draft when the Colorado Rockies picked the Massillon product in the 17th round on Tuesday.
The Kent State first baseman produced an All-America season for the Golden Flashes as a junior in 2023, when he batted .409 with 23 doubles, 10 home runs and 75 RBIs. He also did not commit an error in 432 total chances defensively.
Here are other Stark County players selected in the draft in recent years, along with one undrafted free agent, and where they are now on their baseball journeys.
Zach Dezenzo, Houston Astros organization
Outfielder, 6-foot-4, 220 pounds
Drafted: 12th round, 373rd overall by Astros in 2022
Before the pros: Ohio State, Marlington High School
Where is he now? Dezenzo came out of the gates hot in his first full professional season, batting .407 with four home runs, 20 RBIs and an OPS of 1.102 in 31 games with High Single-A Asheville. The Astros player development department named him the organization’s minor league player of the month for May. Since being promoted to Double-A Corpus Christi, the 23-year-old Dezenzo is batting .274 with two home runs, five doubles and 10 RBIs in 23 games. He has 13 combined stolen bases over the two levels. Dezenzo is ranked as the 29th-best prospect in the Astros system by MLB Pipeline.
Ryan Bergert, San Diego Padres organization
Pitcher, 6-foot-1, 210 pounds
Drafted: Sixth round, 190th overall by Padres in 2021
Before the pros: West Virginia University, GlenOak High School
Where is he now? Bergert is 5-2 with a 2.63 ERA in 14 appearances (12 starts) for High Class-A Fort Wayne. Opponents are batting just .202 off the 23-year-old Bergert, who has struck out 75 batters in 61⅔ innings. He is ranked as the 24th-best prospect in the Padres system by MLB Pipeline.
Dillon Dingler, Detroit Tigers organization
Catcher, 6-foot-3, 210 pounds
Drafted: Second round, 38th overall by Tigers in 2020
Before the pros: Ohio State, Jackson High School
Where is he now? Dingler batted .448 with four home runs in eight games with Single-A Lakeland while working back from a knee injury. Since being sent to Double-A Erie, the 24-year-old Dingler is batting .252 with eight home runs, 10 doubles and 34 RBIs in 45 games. He’s hit 38 home runs in 245 career games in the minors and is ranked as the 14th-best prospect in the Tigers system by MLB Pipeline.
Kyle Nicolas, Pittsburgh Pirates organization
Pitcher, 6-foot-4, 223 pounds
Drafted: Competitive Balance B, 61st overall by Miami Marlins in 2020
Before the pros: Ball State, Jackson High School
Where is he now? Nicolas was traded to the Pirates organization in November 2021. He has worked his way to Triple-A Indianapolis, where he has struggled in five appearances (three starts) after going 3-5 with a 4.36 ERA in 12 starts for Double-A Altoona. The 24-year-old Nicolas has struck out 87 batters and walked 35 in 67⅓ innings across both levels. He is ranked as the 18th-best prospect in the Pirates system by MLB Pipeline.
More on friends Dingler and Nicolas: ’Tomorrow is going to be a great day’: Dillon Dingler, Kyle Nicolas reflect on MLB Draft
Patrick Murphy, Miami Marlins organization
Pitcher, 6-foot-1, 205 pounds
Undrafted: Signed as free agent out of independent Frontier League by Marlins in May 2022.
Before the pros: Ohio State, Marshall, Central Catholic High School
Where is he now? Murphy was enjoying a strong season with Double-A Pensacola before landing on the injured list on May 16. The 26-year-old lefty is 1-0 with a 1.59 ERA in eight relief appearances. He has struck out 14 batters and walked three in 11⅓ innings. Opponents are batting just .171 off him.
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